Science Explorer

Exploring: Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing, informally referred to as “fracking,” is an oil and gas well development process that typically involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals under high pressure into a bedrock formation via the well.

Earthquakes in unusual locations have become an important topic of discussion in both North America and Europe, owing to the concern that industrial activity could cause damaging earthquakes. It has long been understood that earthquakes can be induced by impoundment of reservoirs, surface and underground mining, withdrawal of fluids and gas from...

The USGS has published reports and journal articles on a large number of topics related to the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Some recent reports are online. Findings from the publications are used by Chesapeake Bay Program resource managers and policy makers to make science-based decisions for ecosystem conservation and restoration. USGS...

Seth is a Research Geophysicist with the USGS Central Energy Resources Science Center. His areas of work include seismic characterization of gas hydrates, and the quantification of the potential impacts of oil and gas development (including hydraulic fracturing, produced waters, habitat impacts).

Industrial sand and gravel, often called "silica," "silica sand," and "quartz sand," includes sands and gravels with high silicon dioxide (SiO2) content. These sands are used in glassmaking; for foundry, abrasive, and hydraulic fracturing (frac) applications; and for many other industrial uses. ...

I'm a research geophysicist in the Induced Seismicity group. My research focuses on improving our understanding of how stress changes from natural and anthropogenic sources (i.e., earthquake rupture and/or fluid injection) lead to deformation, seismicity patterns, fluid flow, and pore pressure in the Earth's crust. I am particularly...

I am a research geophysicist at the Earthquake Science Center in Menlo Park, California. My research focuses on improving our ability to characterize both natural and induced (“anthropogenic”) earthquakes. I am particularly interested in developing new methods to identify small magnitude earthquakes over regional distances, creating...

The U.S. Geological Survey celebrated the 125th anniversary of its national program for topographic mapping (1884–2009). Topographic maps became a signature product of the USGS because the public found them—then and now—to be a versatile tool for viewing our Nation's vast landscape.

Dr. Denise M. Akob is a geomicrobiologist whose research focuses on understanding how microorganisms impact their environment and biogeochemical cycles. She investigates both contaminated and pristine environments. Her research focuses primarily on understanding microbial impacts on Cold War Biogeochemistry (uranium and chlorinated solvent...

Water Science • Flow, Transport, and Reaction in Fractured-Rock Aquifers • Groundwater Availability, Protection, and Remediation • Estimation of Large-Scale Aquifer Properties by Field Testing and Simulation • Water Resources of Middle East

Increased salinization of freshwater systems is a growing concern, and can be attributed to a variety of factors including climate change, land-use change, agricultural practices, road de-icing, and brines released from fossil fuel extraction. Effects of increased salinization on aquatic organisms is little understood and may be vastly...

Work in this task of the Oil and Gas Waters Project focuses on quantifying the water used during hydrocarbon development and the water produced along with oil and gas. Hydraulic fracturing is an integral part of oil and gas development in many areas, and water...

Dave Hill is a Scientist Emeritus with the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, CA. He has served as Chief of the Seismology Branch from 1978-1982, Scientist-in-Charge of the Long Valley Observatory from 1982 to April 2009, and as Staff Seismologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory from 1964-1966. He spent six months in 1988 as a visiting...

Every day, millions of gallons of groundwater are pumped to supply drinking water for about 140 million people, almost one-half of the Nation’s population. Learn about the quality and availability of groundwater for drinking, where and why groundwater quality is degraded, and where groundwater quality is changing.

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is the process of injecting water, sand, and/or chemicals into a well to break up underground bedrock to free up oil or gas reserves. The USGS monitors the environmental impact of this practice across the country, from potential earthquakes to degraded groundwater quality.

Mining water use is water used for the extraction of minerals that may be in the form of solids, such as coal, iron, sand, and gravel; liquids, such as crude petroleum; and gases, such as natural gas. The category includes quarrying, milling of mined materials, injection of water for secondary oil recovery or for unconventional oil and gas...

Are you among the more than 100 million people in the U.S. who relies on a public-supply well for your drinking water? Although the quality of finished drinking water from public water systems is regulated by the EPA, long-term protection and management of the raw groundwater tapped by public-supply wells requires an understanding of the...

More than 43 million people—about 15 percent of the U.S. population—rely on domestic (private) wells as their source of drinking water. The quality and safety of water from domestic wells are not regulated by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act or, in most cases, by state laws. Instead, individual homeowners are responsible for...